Transmission gearing



March 22, 1932. 15 AHLM TRANSMISSION GEARING Filed Nov 18. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 6H0: waif c E. F. AHLM 1,850,089

TRANSMISSION GEARING March 22, 193 2.

Filed-Nov 18, 192 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwuem toe Patented Mar. 22," 1932 2' onhnnnsngr. AHLM, or nasricLnvnnaivn, OHIO, ASSIGNOR 'ronucromo'nvnrnrnn'r HOLDING COMPANY, or CLEVELAND, omoqnconronnrxonor DELAWARE TRANSMISSION Guanine applicationnhdKwember is, 1925. Serial No, 69.76211 This invention relates to transmission gearing of the type particularlyadapted to serve as anauxiliary transmission in'c-onn'ection with the usualchange speed transmission, to secure an additional change offspeed for .each speed delivered (by such vch'ange speed transmission and direct drive as well. a The primaryobject isto provide a change speed gearing forconnecting adriving and a driven memberfin; such a. manner that, one rotates considerably faster than the other, in

which the weight and size of the "operating parts are comparatively small and all parts of which may beoeas'ily and cheaply manufactured.- T V o i The transmission as shown flisparlticularly designed to deliver: a single 'speedj're'duction from amain transmission to the worm. shaft of a worm drive differential, and a further object is to provide an adapter construction for the differential and. gearing housings which will permit the use of as many of the already existing differential parts as possible without alteratiom'thereby avoiding replacement of these parts and the, usual trouble in fitting such replacementsv n An objectis to accurately center theaxis of rotation of the driven member of the reduction gearing with the axisof the worm shaft. I accomplish this by utilizing machined cylindrical surfaces in both housings which are concentricto the bearings of the shafts such surfaces closely fitting a single pilot member which in the present, construction serves alsoas'the adapter to facilitate attaching the gearing housing to the differential housing. ,1

Other objects and features will become apparent from the further descriptionof my invention relating, to the accompanying drawings, whereinglhave shown my preferred form. jThefessentlalnovel characteristics will be summarized in theclaims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a substantially central longitudinal section through ,the gearing; Fig. 1 2 is a transverse se'tion through the gearingas indicated by theline on'Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a transverse section as indicated by thefline 33 on; F ig.' 1.

Fig l isa transverse cross section as 1ndicated by the line' ITE PATENT OFFICE,

a fragmentary longitudinal section as indr cated by the line 5 5 on Fig.2..

Referring in detail to the drawings, and indicating the various parts by suitable characters; 1 indicates a driving shaft which in the embodiment shown is the rear end of the usual propeller shaft extending from the universal joint connection with amain. trans mission unit. 1 The shaft 1 is preferablycou driving member 3, shown as supportedby suitable bearings to be later referred-toin detail. 1

The member 3 is arranged to be connected directly to a driven member 4; and also to be connected thereto by reduction gearing for pled by a splined collar 2 to an intermediate alsingle reduced speedf This reduction gear ing comprises an e'ccentrically mounted internal-external gear ,member designated ,5, and which is provided with internalgear teethPl shown as constantly in mesh with teeth P rigid with the intermediate driving shaft 3. Theint'ernal-external gear has also external," teeth P2'on its other end shown as constantlyflin mesh with internal gear teeth F3 on a' tubular gear member? in axial alignment with the members 3 and 4 'This gear? has a support intermediate its ends by reason of a roller bearing 10 which bears against a tubular'portion 20 of the gear. Therollers are supported by a bearing race ll'c-arried by the'casing 12. The casing preferably comprises end sections 13 andl l,

which sections may be suitably bolted" together alongthe line 15. The tubular portion 20 of the gear member 7 surrounds the shaft 8, as shown, and carries on its inner periphery, spaced roller bearings indicated at 21, which bear against a sleeve 22 splined .to' the rear end of the shaft. Thus, the bearing 10 finally supports the rear end ofthe' shaft 3;

Suitable means for connectingvthe gear? to the driven member 4 may comprise an 111-.

ternal clutch member-24 shown as having a sliding dental connection at25 with a dental member 26 substantiallyrigid on the driven shaft 4. This slidingclutch member-1 is ;ar ranged to be shifted'forwardly to the p osi-o tion shown tocause clutch teeth27 'onflthe P3 would 1 also large.

member to engage teeth 28 on the gear member 7 which connection results in a reduced speed being imparted to the shaft 4. This reduction is by reason of the smaller driving gear P engagingthe teeth of the larger gear P and the small gear P2 engaging teeth of the larger gear P8, resulting in a compound reduction. For direct drive the clutch member 24 iss-h-if-ted to its rearmost position, the teeth 27 'thereotengaging teeth 30 on the flanged end of the sleeve 22,which results in a direct connection between the shafts sand 4. Any suitable means m ai be provided for shifting the dental clutc' able bearings inthe casing sections which bar carries a head 32 resiliently mounted with respect to the bar and which'head has the usual depending finger extending from an arm 38 for engaging the usual clutch rings 3% onthe member 24:. This shifting arrangeinen't hasbeen shown, described and claimed in my Patent, 1,696,178, granted Deer-25,

in the casing without subjecting the shaft to rubbing thrust contact with its support at any point. The bearing support for the front end of the shaft, as shown, comprises a ballbearing 40 supported in the casing and having its inner race 41 mounted near the front end of the shaft. Thesha'ft is held against longitudinal shifting by reasonof the abutting engagement between the gear P and'thebearing race member 41 which race is clamped between the teeth and a nut threaded on the shaft 3, and suitably locked in lplaceas by a lock nut 56. p

' "feature of'the invention appears in the arrangement of the gear "teeth on the, in-

ternal-external gear 5 and of'thebearings'for gear 5 and if desired may be made on almost the same-pitch diameter as the teeth P1 in 'orde'rto secure a large reduction with gears of small size and. consequently hglit weight.

It will be apparent that ifthe gears P1 and P2 were approximately in the same plane,

there would have to be considerable difference in their pitch diameters, and the gear have to be proportionately To minimize ovenmngefthe' ear P2 from member 24.- I have shown a shifting bar 31' mounted insuit-.

I have arranged for positioning the shaft 3 7 its support a bearing 44 is placed as close to the gear P2 as practicable and it will be noted that this hearing is supported by the same housing member as the bearing 43. It will also be noted that radial alignment of gear teeth andbearing permits the bearings 43 and 44 to be well spaced apart thus further increasing therigidity of the support for heecoentric gear member Without adding to its length.

- i The bearings 43 and 44 are shown as separated by an annular member 46 shown as riveted tothe body of the member 5 at 47. The periphery intermediate the ends of the memher 5 is shown as cut away at 49 to provide a recess between the separator and "the memher, "and any suitable number of openings such as 50 communicate between this recess andthe interior of the gear 5'in order to feed oil thereinto. To force "oil into the interior to lubricate the teeth P and P1 as well as the bearing 4:0, I preferably employ oil scoops such as designated 52, Fig. 4, formed in the separator member 46, which are arranged to scoop oil from the Well, at the bottom of the casing, the level of which oilrises substantially above the lower edge of the separator under ordinary runningoond'i tions.

Iutilize a similar arrangement ror oiling is the bearings 21 and clutch teeth 28 and 30. In thelatter arrangement, however, I utilize in addition the loweren'd "of the shipper arm 3'3 to force oil collected between the rings-34, inwardly through tangentially arranged openings 29in the'clu'tch member 2 1-. The clutch "arm 33 extends close'to the clutch member 24 and substantially fills the space between the 'clutch rings 34,301 a little distance. one end of the ship erarm33 is beveled as at 33a. As viewed in Figure 3 the clutch member 8'4 always rotates a ooi'i-nter-cloc'kwise direction and the arrangement of openings 29 is such that, as the clutch member is rotated, oil is scooped up by the openings out of the supply of'oil contained in the casing and the rotation tends toforce such oil inwardly. By reason of the proximity of the rings to each other aquantity ofoil is also picked'up c.

by capillaryattraction and carried around from the oil supply into Contact with the bevel'33a, which in effect dams up the oil and forcesitthrou'ghthe openings 29. Thus I have provided a very effective'forced'feed lubricationwith referencegto the bearings 21 and the clutc'hte'eth. The oil "so fed is al lowed to enter the interior 'ofthetubular por- As shown particularly in Figure 3,

tion of the gear 7 by'reason'd-f suitable openings such as indicateda tQO Fig. 1.

Q As previously mentioned the transmission gearing shown is designed to be especially applicable to a Ford "worm drive differential mechanism :Obvious'lythe use "of asniuch jasp'ossijble of the already existing 'differen- 51:30

rial mechanism, in applying the auxiliary incident with the axis of the worm. My auxiliary transmission housing member 18 has an annular shoulder, formed by a rib .68

adjacent the, outer edge of a flange 72. This rib may be machined when the housing member 13 is bored out forthe bearing sleeve 11 so that it is concentric with the normal center of rotation. of the shaft 3. I utilize the. rib and the circular recess 65 in aligning the shafts 3 and 4 by means of a flanged adapter and pilot member 66- which has an annular projection 67. for engaging the opening 65,.

and "an undercut 69 for engaging the rib 68.

The flange designated 66 has a double series of openings for receiving suitable fastening bolts or screws indicated at 70 and 71. The screws 70 of the inner circle engage ears 78 of the differential housing and the screws 71 of the outer circle, engage the flange 72 of the gearing housing." I l To attach the reduction gearing to the differential housingthe adapter is first secured tothe difierential housing with theprojection 67 closely fitting the opening 65. The clutch member 26 is then driven over the splined end of the worm shaft, and the housing flange 72 is then bolted to the flange 66 of the adapter member with the rib 68 engaging the undercut 69 to complete the alignment of the rotat- 7 ing parts just mentioned. Thus it will be seen'that the member 66 not only serves as a shaft aligner but also as a' very compact adapter for the housings.

I arrange for retaining oil-in the transmission housing against escape into the differential housing by recessing the adapter for a retainer, washer 7 5 of 'felt or other suitable material which contacts with the hub of the clutch member 26. A forward extension of the adapter may be provided with the usual spiral grooves 7 6 as ing means.

In installing my transmission it is not necessary to shorten the radius rods and the only cutting necessary in making the instalan additional oil retain- .lation is to remove a portionof the torque tube 1. The support for the tube is shown as cast integrally with the housing portion 1 1 and may be simply slipped overthe cut off end of the tube after which the casingportion 13 is bolted to thedifferential housing as described.

It. will be seen that I have and I do not tlierefore wish to limit myself;

produced a re-.

weight of the car and which utilizes a number of parts-already on the car to- 'facilitate application. I am aware that changes'may be made in the arrangement shown" without departing from the spirit of my invention.

to mere constructional details.

Iclaim: 7, 1. In a transmission gearing, a casing hav-' ing anoil chamber, a pair of rotatable mem'f I be'rsmounted therein, a'gea'ring for connect ing the rotatable members, including an eX-,

ternal gear rigid with one member and an in ternal gear rigid with the other, a tubular gear member surrounding and "spaced apart from one of the'm'embe'rs and having'sets'of teeth in mesh with the respective-geara ec centric rolling bearings for the tubulargear member externally thereof, and mountedin the casing,;a tubular bearing spacer rigid on r the tubular gear, and *oil scooping 1 devices carried on the spacer and arranged to dip oil from the chamber and force it inwardly-into the interior. of the tubular gear to lubricate the gear teeth when the gearing is operated.

2., In a transmission gearing, a casing hav- 7 ing an oil chamber, a pair, of rotatable membersmounted therein, a gearing for connecting the rotatable members,including a'tubular gear member: surrounding and' spaced apart from oneof the members and having internal gear teeth, eccentric bearings for the tubular gear member externally'thereof, and mounted in the casing, a tubular bearing spacer rigid on the tubular gear, and oil scooping'devices carried on the spacer and arranged to dip oil' from thechamber when the gear member is, rotated, said devices comprising tangentialopenings'through the spacer member. l

, 3. In a transmission gearing, a casing, a pair of rotatable members mounted in the casing, means for connecting such rotatable members together including a gear train comprising a gear rigid with one of the rotatable members, a composite eccentrically mounted gear having teeth in mesh with said-first named gear and a tubular gear having teeth in mesh with the composite gear and sur rounding one of the rotatable members,

ion 7 its means for connectingthe tubular gear to H the other of said rotatable members, and means including a rolling bearing the races of which are grooved to "retain the rolling elements, one of the races being rigid with the rotatable member carrying the first named 4. In a gearing, a casingadapted to retain an 7 oil, a pair of. rotatable members extending thereinto, a pinion rigid with one of the mem bers, an eccentrically mounted hollow gear member having teeth in mesh with the pinion,

a geared connection between said hollow member and the other rotatablemember, and means including a lateral opening through the hollow gear member and a device ZLSSO". ciated therewith adapted to dip oil fromthe casing when the hollow gear isrotated and force it inwardly toward the gear and pinion teeth.

7 5. In a transmission gearing,a casing having anoil chamber, a pair of rotatable members mounted therein, a'gearing for connecting the rotatable members including a hollow gear having a plurality of sets of teeth,.one set comprising internal teeth and each set having a respective geared connection with the said rotatable members, the hollow gear being 1n surrounding eccentric relatlon to one of the rotatable members, bearings carried rigidly by the casing for supporting the hollow gear member, and means carried by the hollow member and arranged to dip' oil from said chamber and force the same into the interior thereof to lubricate the gears.

6. I11 a transmission gearing a casing formed to provide an oil supply chamber, a pair of rotatable members located thereinin mutual alignment, an eccentrically mounted hollow gear surrounding one of the members and having a plurality of sets of gear teeth, each set. having a geared connection with a respective rotatable member, longitudinally separated rolling bearings for the hollow gear member, an opening in the hollow gear member located between said bearings, and an oil scooping device rigid with the hollow gear and communicating with the opening and arranged to dip .oil from the supply and force it inwardly toward certain of the gears when the hollow gear member is rotated.

7. In a gearing, a stationary casing, a pair of shafts extending thereinto from opposite directions, means for connecting the shafts for a given speed, means for connecting the shafts for another speed comprising gears foreach of the shafts coaxial with the respective shafts, and a compound hollow gear having separate sets oi teeth for connecting the aforesaid other gears, abearing externally-.ofthecompound gear for supporting it on an axis eccentric to one of the shafts and in fixed relation .to the casing, said bearing comprising separated bearing supporting members joined to the casing and separated from the'casing wall-for a portion of theirextent and anti-friction rolling elements inter-- posed between each of said members and the hollow gear. 1

In testimony whereof, Ihereunto .aflix my signature.

CHARLES E. F; 

